Karma

[winston]

Mindfulness as Liberation

Mindfulness can refashion the links in the chain of actions and consequences.

In doing so, it unchains us, frees us and opens up new directions for us, through the moments we call life.

- Jon Kabat-Zinn, “Changing Karma”

[winston]

Navigating the Karmic Stream
While I did not set in motion the karmic stream, it’s nonetheless up to me as to how I negotiate its currents.

I can go with the current, swim against it, or seek a shoreline but the currents and eddies of the stream are forever shifting and leave me no option but to continually decide what to do. 

- Tricycle, “Ten Thousand Miles”

[winston]

At times, we worry that our past sins are troubling us and they are inescapable. Is it really so?

If we think that the effect of prarabdha karma (the destined consequences of past actions) is inescapable, then what is the use of worshipping the Divine?

Even though prarabdha is there, the grace of the Divine will certainly remove, to a large extent, the bad effects from it.

Here is a small example. There is an injection bottle. It is written on it that the medicine inside can be used up to 1970. In 1972, that very bottle is there, and so is the medicine in it. But the medicine will have no potency. It cannot serve its purpose.

In the same way, in our destiny there may be the medicine or prarabdha; but by His grace, we can weaken and blunt its effect. Even though it is there, it cannot trouble us.

We can become beneficiaries of His grace; we need not be afraid of either prarabdha or sanchita or agami (the different types of karmas).

If He is pleased with our worship, He will certainly annul the bad effects of these. Therefore, the most important thing we have to try is to earn the grace of the Divine, through which we can overcome all these bad effects.

Summer Showers 1972, Ch 11.

Mountains of sin will vanish like mist by the Divine's grace.

Source: radiosai.org

[behappyalways]

『不殺生』的定義?　掐死蚊子、掐死螞蟻、打死蟑螂算不算殺生？
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3S0R3YF8mcE

[winston]

Like Produces Like

All results come from causes that have the ability to create them.

If we plant apple seeds, an apple tree will grow, not chili.

If chili seeds are planted, chili will grow, not apples.

- Thubten Chodron, “What Is Karma?”

[winston]

Consequential Choices

Our worth is a product of our ability to choose between right and wrong, between truth and delusion — and these are consequential choices.

We know the difference between wholesome and unwholesome acts and we know that our actions have consequences.

- Sallie Jiko Tisdale, “On Dignity”

[winston]

Why should we be watchful of what we do at all times?

This world is a combination of Time, Action and Cause.

Every action has a reaction. When your finger gets cut with a knife, blood oozes out immediately. Here, the reaction is instantaneous. There is no time gap whatsoever.

On the other hand, the food we eat takes at least two hours to be digested. Take the case of a seed. A seed sown today takes three to four days to sprout. Here the time gap between action and reaction is slightly more as compared to the previous instances.

On the other extreme, we have a case where it takes years for a sapling to grow into a gigantic tree and yield fruit. Thus, the time gap between action and reaction may vary depending on the nature of action.

It is impossible to say when, how and where, one will face the consequences of one’s action. But know for sure that none can escape the consequences of their actions.

- Divine Discourse, Sep 03, 1999.

Devotion to the Divine will give you bliss, prosperity and peace.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why should we be always careful of the karmas we engage in?

Goodness means good behaviour, good conduct, good discipline and good character.

Truth, righteousness, peace, love and nonviolence, are verily the five life principles of man.

Human life is a journey from ‘I’ to ‘We’. This journey is subtle and the goal is very near but man takes many births to reach the destination.

Why should he take such a long time, undergoing hardships, to attain the goal, which is so near?

Modern youth are making every effort to know all that is happening in the world but are not making any effort to understand the fundamental truth of human life.

No benefit accrues from acquiring such information, which does not lead you to the goal of life.

There are thousands of intellectuals, scholars and eminent educationists, in the world today. But all the worldly knowledge and skills will be a mere waste, if one does not know oneself.

The primary duty of man is to understand who he really is.

- Divine Discourse, Nov 18, 1999.

Do not be concerned whether someone is watching your actions or not. The Divine is certainly watching your actions.

Source: radiosai.org

[behappyalways]

Why should we recite the Ksitigarbha Sutra more? The karma of life and death will bring its own retribution; it’s not that there will be no retribution, the time has not yet come.

為甚麼要多唸地藏經? 生死業緣 果報自受；不是不報 時候未到

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=38g7tUNsdjk

[winston]

How to Tell the Future

If you want to know your past, look at your present circumstances.

If you want to know your future, look at what is in your mind.

- Matthieu Riccard, “Karma Crossroads”